Concio, Hernandez win
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 17 Dec 2024
Manila---International Master Michael Concio, Jr. defeated former leader Arena International Master Gabriel Ryan Paradero in 55 moves of a King’s Indian Attack to rule the Philippine National Juniors Chess Championships for the second straight year at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) headquarters along Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City Monday night.
Concio outplayed Paradero right in the opening phase as he sacrificed a piece for a vicious kingside attack where he extracted the full point to seize the crown with 6.5 points.
It also booked the Dasmarinas bet a ticket to the World Juniors Championships in February next year in Petrovac, Montenegro where he would have a chance to seize a dream Grandmaster title should he end up ruling that tournament.
He also went home with the top purse worth P20,000 in the tilt organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Paradero dropped into a three-man logjam for second with National Master Cedric Khalel Abris and FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo with six points each but wound up fourth because he had the lowest tiebreak score.
Abis, who shocked former national juniors titlist FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri, took second while Bacojo, who turned back National Master Phil Martin Casiguran, claimed third.
Also joining Concio in Petrovac is Woman National Master Lexie Hernandez, who topped the girls’ section earlier.
The Ateneo standout Hernandez came out of nowhere to snatch the girls crown of the Philippine National Juniors Chess Championships.
Unfazed by a painful opening-round defeat, the 19-year-old Interdisciplinary Studies student went on a rampage as she scored 5.5 points out of her last six outings including a 46-move, final-round win over Woman National Master Jersey Marticio in a Caro-kann duel.
It sent the former Eastern Asia Youth standard and blitz gold winner into a tie for first with Woman National Master Daren dela Cruz, who bested Karol Jozef de Guia, with 5.5 points each but went on snaring the title due to a better tiebreaker, 25-21.5.
The feat earned the Candaba, Pampanga native the right to represent the country in the World Juniors meet slated in Petrovac, Montenegro in February next year plus the P15,000 prize.
“Actually, I didn't expect it po kasi ang dami pong magagaling and yung mindset ko po ng whole tournament is maglalaro lang ako kahit ano man po yung maging results ng performance ko sa tournament,” said Hernandez.
Dela Cruz finished second while Woman FIDE Master Ruelle Canino ended up third with five points.
It was a heartbreaking finish for Canino, the heavy favorite to win it all being the reigning women’s champion and Olympiad veteran but just didn’t live up to expectations in this tournament.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
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